Leif

Said before the game that starting a charity case like Bakayoko weakens us. Start with Drinkwater and we're probably winning.

Roman looks bored to death. Buy some already-ready attackers you sour Russian shady fuck. More tired of him than anyone.

Lampard himself - Bakayoko not good enough. Can't figure out what sort of midfielder he's supposed to be. Initially thought he could be a Yaya Toure, but now, definitely not. Is he a knee-jerk reactionary, short-sighted, uninformed fan too? http://www.goal.com/en/news/bakayoko-needs-to-offer-more-for-40m-lampard-unimpressed-by/1kulbh3ro18pt1oa6n1ijdlefu

No! That's not allowed! He's allowed to be as crap as possible because he's young!!! HE'S YOUNG DAMMIT!!!!!

Tepid from Courtois in the end. There's no such thing as an unstoppable header. Barely moved his hands. Didn't even move his body. Most keepers would throw their body on the line. When Cech conceded I felt sorry for him. When Courtois concedes I feel nothing but bitterness for accommodating someone who barely wants to be here.

He's been this good the whole time. We should've had 4 seasons of him central already.

Unless they already have someone lined up, I could see Oblak going to Juventus.

It's embarrassing to yet again have only 2 players adept at charging forward. It's no understatement to say that 2 great wing backs will steroid-up our game entirely.

From today's game so far. Never would this be said about Hazard -

Honestly if Bakayoko's supposedly adept at charging forward, and got some sort of defensive prowess, surely he can be moulded into a left back who's no slower than Alonso?

http://www.genti.stream/hd/hd3.php

Drinkwater's earned a start - Bakayoko hasn't. Sums up part of our idiotic policy for the past 10 or so years. Giving games to players just because they cost too much. If Bakayoko came through the youth system on a free, no way on earth he'd start tonight. (And this isn't a fallacy - it's a policy shared by Real Madrid too of course.) We go into this game weaker than we should be, for the sake of hoping a headless chicken magically turns into Charizard.

I don't think a player who consistently dives, and dribbles for showmanship less-so than for actual effectiveness, can be compared to Hazard personally. Nevermind that I've seen Hazard rip holes through Arsenal, Man City, United, Tottenham, while Neymar gets bigged up for ripping through Villarreal, Celtic and Bordeaux. Nevermind that Hazard consistently does-so with flimsy, sometimes non-existent support, while Neymar's only ever played in all-out-attacking teams with monsters around him. Put Hazard in Barcelona, Brazil or PSG's team and we'd see output greater than greatness. The fact is, Hazard's been compared to damn Messi while having to link up with Alonso, Willian, & Azpilicueta as a make-shift left back. Neymar would sooner be compared to Alexis Sanchez than Messi if he had to play under the same conditions. And if it comes down to goals, Van Persie+Anelka were superior strikers to Drogba (not a chance though, really.) Harry Kane too Point being, we must disregard goals sometimes when deciding who a better forward is, in my opinion. And when we do disregard their goal stats, where on earth is Neymar strong, where Hazard is weak? On the reverse, Hazard has plenty of strengths where Neymar is weak: balance, remaining consistently present for the full game, dribbling effectiveness & ball retention, professional mentality. When you buy a player, you're buying their mindset as well as their stats. For that reason, if Hazard/Neymar were to be considered equal ability-wise (which i disagree with), i'd consider Hazard to win by default due to his mentality. Ask Madrid fans who they'd rather have - they'd take Hazard. Ask Barcelona fans who they'd rather have - they'd take Hazard. Ask us who we'd rather have; the majority should say Hazard.

Issue is, after signing Drinkwater + Bakayoko, Roman wouldn't swallow his pride and replace them both after just 1 season, which he'd have to do if bringing Savic onboard. Who really is both players combined, x5.

Having seen the Alan Shearer documentary about ex-footballers developing dementia due (allegedly) to heading the ball so many times, I've genuine concern re: Morata. I already love him, and regardless of that fact, any player / person doesn't deserve dementia. That's the only reason I want him to start scoring with his feet more - to the point he's so good with his feet, that he can actually be instructed by an ITK manager to start heading less. I headed the ball twice when i was growing up before deciding it wasn't for me. Absolutely shook my skull, gave me a headache and I could hear the blood swooshing around; no idea how these pro's do it first in training, then in games. (Then became a goalkeeper for a while; my first save was my foot, ricocheting with force straight back where it came from, up the leg of the striker, straight into his nose, breaking it, making the toughest guy of the town cry. I shat myself.)

always loved that guy

Juve fans online don't seem worried about potentially losing him, so aren't considering rumours much either way. Until today i never looked up the opinions of Juve supporters on Sandro, but many, many of them highlight he's nothing defensively, and only has his offensive game to brag about. They seem eager to see him go if it means over 60m for him.

^^ I was going to look up exactly what you (Jason) just posted. It makes me feel almost sick how many times City have got their points in the bag during the last moments of their games. It's the sign of champions really, performing under that immense pressure that comes with only minutes left to play. It doesn't happen by coincidence either - Guardiola's finally showing his worth in the Premier League. He's taught the players a new mentality, which is a shame for us, because you don't lose your mentality the moment a coach is gone. They've lost their fear, and any inferiority complex that they had. I expect them and ourselves to win the bulk of the next 10 Premier League titles, with them edging us 6 to 4, or maybe even 7 to 3. With that in mind, I simply hope they don't win the CL any time soon. If they take at least another 5 years to win it (possible, but becoming more unlikely unfortunately), at least we can stake the genuine claim that when compared side by side (worth doing since both clubs were taken over by ultra-rich parties), we are the ones who tasted the forbidden fruit far quicker, which surely is a sign of better success. (And if we want to get petty, which we do of course, we've beyond reasonable doubt, reached a CL final in a quicker fashion than them, and dominated some top teams like Barcelona in a way they never have.) Regardless of our recent years and the ones to come, we can take solace knowing that our 90's team easily outmatches any of their pre-oil baron teamsNever will they be the biggest team in Manchester, and never will they be the other team contending United for the crown of England's best ever - which we're on level for in my opinion if we begin a ratio of 5 PL titles to United's 1 PL title, going forward. If we win 5 more PL titles, and United 0 in the next 10 years, we're the best in PL history in my mind, regardless of records. We've had consistent success despite different managers, different philosophies. They've really only had a boom period (during most of our lives) under 1 manager. And in many sports, that'd be called a one-trick pony, a fluke, a green period. If your views are as unorthodox as some of the shit i come out with, you might consider us the most consistent PL team of the past 20 years. Especially when you consider that our worst run of form under Roman, has already been matched by United (except we still won the Europa League - what did they win during their worst periods?) We have equal stains in my lifetime. But we've won the race under far more variety of conditions. (The fact that this post began about Man City, but turned into a United comparison, further shows that they're not going to match United in our lifetime. They're just our version of PSG. They can win as much as they like, but never will they win hearts; only begrudging respect, and that respect isn't like the one earned by us, Arsenal's invincible's, United's golden periods. Then again, my 'need' to put them down validates some sort of jealousy. I guess it's normal to be jealous of how they play. But no doubt they're jealous of our trophies)

I don't know why pundits (some) say he's in the same bracket as Messi and Ronaldo. Ronaldo is clearly (unfortunately) completely mortal now, not even as good as Robben/Ribery just 2-3 seasons ago. Hazard is better than Ronaldo. Yes it took Ronaldo declining for this to happen, but it's happened. What's even more absurd are random fans who say, with all seriousness, 'How is Hazard the 2nd best when Neymar exists???' (with as many claiming Neymar's the best in the world....) It's shocking to me, almost to the point of anger, that people think so simply not to consider Neymar would be absolutely ordinary playing for the likes of us, Tottenham, Lille, whichever team that isn't absolutely bloated all over the field - yet Hazard regardless of his team, would clearly play in his way which lends itself to him always, always shining. It shouldn't even need explained. Too many people form their opinions based on highlights, flair & the newest Fifa game.

Worth repeating that I think it's madness if we don't target both Robben & Ribery considering they're about to be free agents. I understand if Robben maybe wants his career to take a step back into Holland, but he was loved here too, and either player would immensely compliment & relieve Hazard while chipping in at least 15 goals (including assists) themselves.

I don't want to start a debate about this, but I think the only player to match him in Premier League history is Henry. And I don't think Henry was better. Drogba comes close, but remains just a spot behind. Ronaldo's time here doesn't even come close, which is pleasing to say. (Some fucking idiots in the world would say Scholes is #1 without a hint of sarcasm )

We've seen Drogba, Lampard, Ashley Cole, Cech, Terry, Zola, Essien, Mikel, Makelele - most of us consider Hazard to be beyond all of them I'm sure yet we'll still find so many other fans saying he's overrated He's our best ever player. For them to not accept that notion at face value and presume it true is idiotic.

We'd spank both Napoli & Juventus in my opinion. Allegri makes every team he joins slightly toothless; Napoli are dead from fatigue, and 1 by 1 their best players are picking up injuries. The only teams I never expect us to beat are Bayern & Real Madrid. I wouldn't be excited to face Barcelona/PSG either, but at least they can architect their own downfall this season.

Considering their lack of potency, disregarding his great form, I would actually rest Hazard, and give Willian/Pedro more time to build chemistry in the team. With a flat 3 in the centre otherwise, I think we'll give too much of a game to Atletico, allow them to simply play too much. I don't want a midfield game. With 3 up top, we have a more 'anxious' midfield with only 2, meaning in this instance we play acceptable hoof-ball, getting into their defence as quickly as possible. They have a machine of a midfield, & i don't want to line-up in a way which brings the battle there. Keep the ball between the wingers, and attack their lack of pace. I've enough faith we'd find our way without Eden here.

Seems Tottenham are falling back to where they belong. The biggest nail would be a club swooping in for Eriksen, though it seems unlikely.